If you have been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and your impairment is significant enough to keep you from working, you might be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees two kinds of disability benefits.
The SSA views Crohn’s Disease as a serious impairment that sometimes qualifies for disability benefits. Because of the complex process of disability benefits claims, thousands of applicants are denied benefits every year. If you are unable to work because of Crohn’s Disease and are ready to apply for disability, seek the guidance of a Social Security attorney or advocate to help with your claim.
How Does Crohn’s Disease Qualify For Disability Benefits?
The Blue Book is the medical guide used by the SSA to determine whether or not an individual qualifies for disability benefits. There is a listing in the book for Crohn’s Disease. Listing 5.06 is for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This listing requires the individual to have advanced symptoms, which have resulted in bowel tissue regeneration, obstructive scarring in the bowels, or other severe complications.
The IBD diagnosis has details of how you could qualify for benefits because of severe weight loss, kidney and liver complications, and other symptoms. If you don’t meet these criteria, you can still qualify medically using Section 5.02 for bleeding of the bowels that requires a blood transfusion, Section 5.05 for chronic liver complications and Section 5.08 for severe weight loss.
How Can An Attorney Help Me While Applying?
Sometimes it might be challenging to determine if you meet the Blue Book criteria for your condition. Your Social Security attorney or advocate can help you determine if you meet the criteria for your condition. He or she will gather up medical records and other documentation to support your claim and then go over your restrictions and limitations to see if you meet the requirements of the Crohn’s listing. If you are unable to work because of uncontrollable diarrhea or if blood loss causes fatigue and requires transfusions, you might be eligible to get disability benefits. Your attorney will help ensure your case is fairly evaluated.
How Can My Attorney Help Me If My Claim Is Denied?
If your claim for disability benefits based on Crohn’s Disease is denied, your attorney will help you prove that your symptoms and side effects keep you from earning a substantial gainful income. Your condition and its treatments will be considered along with your age, work history, and educational background through a medical-vocational allowance. After your claim is denied, an appeal must be filed. You will request a hearing before an administrative law judge where you will be questioned by a vocational expert to learn more about your condition.
Your disability attorney or advocate will help you get ready for the questioning session. Your questions might involve, “Does the uncontrolled diarrhea affect your work day?” “Does the nausea keep you from focusing at work?” “Has the weight loss affected your strength?”
Connect With An Attorney Today
If you are unable to work because of Crohn’s Disease and you are ready to get your claim for disability benefits started, fill out the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to have your details shared with a Social Security advocate or attorney near you. With the help of an advocate or attorney, you can get your disability claim on track.
